Abstract
Hot pepper is one of the most important crops grown by smallholder farmers of Arba Minch Zuria district mainly for income generation. The dry fruit yield of the crop is very low in the district due to several production constraints of which the low accessibility of improved varieties and soil nutrient deficiency are among the major ones. Therefore, this experiment was conducted at Chano Mille Kebele, Arba Minch Zuria district of Southern Ethiopia during 2018/2019 cropping season to assess the effect of blended NPS fertilizer rates on growth, yield and yield components of hot pepper varieties and to determine optimum rate(s) of blended NPS fertilizer for hot pepper production for the study area. Six rates of blended NPS fertilizer (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 kg ha-1) and three hot pepper varieties (Bako Local, Mareko Fana and Melka Shote) were used as experimental treatments and laid-out in 3x6 factorial arrangement in Randomized Complete Block Design in three replications. The results revealed that the main effect of variety and rates of blended NPS fertilizer had a significant effect (P<0.05) on growth, yield and yield components of hot pepper. The interaction effect of variety and rates of blended NPS fertilizer significantly affected the yield and yield components of hot pepper but not growth parameters. Melka Shote variety showed better vegetative growth. Melka Shote and Bako Local at the application of 200 kg ha-1 blended NPS fertilizer produced large number of fruits plant-1 and seeds fruit-1, maximum fruit weight plant-1 and dry fruit yield without significant variation among the two treatment combinations. Regression analysis revealed that as application of blended NPS fertilizer increased by one kg, the total dry fruit yield of Bako Local, Mareko Fana and Melka Shote increased by 7.3, 6.2 and 8.6 kg, respectively. Melka Shote variety had dry fruit yield advantage of 1.3 and 2.4 kg over Bako Local and Mareko Fana, respectively, as the rates of blended NPS fertilizer increased by one kg. Thus, application of 200 kg ha-1 blended NPS fertilizer for Melka Shote and Bako Local varieties could be optimum and recommended to improve hot pepper productivity for the current soil fertility status of the study area and vicinity with similar soil fertility status and agro-ecology.
Highlights
Hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is the most important crop consumed as vegetable and spice in the world [1]
Melka Shote variety had dry fruit yield advantages of 1.3 and 2.4 kg over Bako Local and Mareko Fana, respectively as the rates of blended NPS fertilizer increased by one kg
The results of current study revealed that hot pepper varieties showed differential responses for dry fruit yield and yield components when subjected to different rates of blended NPS fertilizer at Arba Minch condition
Summary
Hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is the most important crop consumed as vegetable (green fruit) and spice (dry fruit) in the world [1]. In Ethiopia, total green and dry fruit yield production of hot pepper was 62,247.56 and 307,457.11 tons, respectively from an area of 10,473.07 and 172,142.19ha, respectively in 2018/2019 cropping season [3]. Hot pepper production has remained low in the country with a national average yield of 5.7 and 1.9 tons ha-1 for green and dry fruit yield, Advances in Biochemistry 2021; 9(3): 74-81 respectively [3]. Lack of improved varieties, lack of appropriate and optimum fertilizer recommendation and moisture stress are the most significant constraints that affect hot pepper production in Ethiopia [48]. Soil nutrient deficiency and low accessibility of improved varieties are among the most critical factors that limit the yield and production of hot pepper in Arba Minch Zuria District, Southern Ethiopia [9]
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